SBLive Missouri high school boys basketball Power 25 rankings (March 15): New Madrid County Central wins Class 3 title
The penultimate ranking list for the 2022-23 season features no changes in the top four as Class 4, 5 and 6 begin their run in the semifinal rounds.
South Iron completed the state championship three-peat with its third Class 1 state championship in a row, while New Madrid County Central completed the long journey back to the top with a Class 3 state championship this past weekend.
Vashon will look to make it an unprecedented four state championships in a row.
SBLIVE MISSOURI POWER 25 BOYS BASKETBALL RANKINGS
• PREVIOUS RANKINGS: JAN. 24 | FEB. 6 | FEB. 13 | FEB. 21 | FEB. 28 | MARCH 8
Here's a look at the SBLive Missouri Power 25 (with records through March 12):
1. Vashon (23-7)
Last week: 1
The defending Class 4 state champions have romped their way through the Class 4 district, sectional and quarterfinal rounds and right back into the semifinals. The Wolverines dominated Lutheran St. Charles in the Class 4 quarterfinal round, holding a 40-13 lead at halftime. Senior and Southern Illinois commit Kennard Davis led the way with 16 points. It's the fourth consecutive time that the Wolverines have reached the semifinal round. The three-time defending champions will face Father Tolton on Thursday in a Class 4 semifinal game.
2. Staley (28-2)
Last week: 2
Staley crushed Battle 81-37 in a Class 6 quarterfinal game to reach the semifinal round for the second consecutive season. The Falcons, after a third-place finish last year are looking to improve upon that finish this time with a matchup with Jackson at 10 a.m. on Friday in the first Class 6 semifinal game.
3. Cardinal Ritter (24-4)
Last week: 3
The Lions used a strong fourth-quarter push to pull away from Sikeston in a Class 5 quarterfinal round game on Friday. Cardinal Ritter advanced to its fourth straight semifinal round and 12th overall in its storied program. Nashawn Davis paced the attack with 16 points, while Ryan Atkins and Derrick Rivers chipped in 13 points each in the victory. The Lions captured a third-place finish in Class 5 after back-to-back championship runs in 2020-21. Cardinal Ritter will square off with Pembroke Hill in the first Class 5 semifinal game at 2 p.m. on Friday.
4. Kickapoo (22-8)
Last week: 4
Kickapoo edged out Lee's Summit West on Friday evening to advance to its third semifinal round in the last four years. The Chiefs knocked off the Titans 49-43 in a hotly contested affair, pulling away late. With a retooled roster from the 2021 state championship team, Trae Oetting led the way on Friday with 19 points. Harrison Doennig chipped in 13 points in the victory. Kickapoo will square off with Troy Buchanan in a Class 6 semifinal game at 12 p.m. Friday in Springfield.
5. Troy Buchanan (25-5)
Last week: 11
The Trojans punched their tickets back to the state semifinal round for the first time since 2012 by beating Chaminade 74-62 in a Class 6 quarterfinal game on Friday evening. Charlie Nett led the way with 18 points, while Jack Fessenden and Andrew Moore chipped in 17 points each in the victory. The Trojans used a double-digit run in the final minutes of the first half to edge out the Red Devils. Troy will play Kickapoo in a Class 6 semifinal game at 12 p.m. on Friday in Springfield.
6. Ladue (25-5)
Last week: 7
The Rams' charmed career continues after a 42-41 victory over Westminster in a Class 5 quarterfinal game. It was the second consecutive game that Ladue had one by one point after defeating De Smet in the district title game. Jaylen Swinney led the way with 11 points and pulled down four assists, while senior Jack Steinbach scored seven points and had five rebounds to go with four assists. Ladue will play Jefferson City in a Class 5 semifinal game on Friday in Springfield.
7. Jefferson City (23-7)
Last week: 14
The Jays survived an overtime thriller against Hillcrest, winning 60-56 on Friday to punch their way to the semifinal round for the first time since 2004. Steven Samuels led the way with 23 points, while Jordan Martin chipped in 16 points in the victory. Jefferson City will play Ladue in a Class 5 semifinal game on Friday in Springfield looking for its first state championship since 2017.
8. New Madrid County Central (24-7)
Last week: 10
The Eagles completed the long journey and captured the Class 3 state championship on Saturday. New Madrid County Central defeated upstart Lutheran North 56-46 with Jadis Jones pouring in 20 points and pulling down seven rebounds with two blocks in the state title game. Brandon Williamson added 18 points with four rebounds in the win. It's the first state championship for the Eagles since 2001 when current coach Lennies McFerren led them to back-to-back titles then.
9. Jackson (21-9)
Last week: 15
The Indians advanced to their first semifinal round since 1934 with a 40-36 victory over Eureka in a Class 6 quarterfinal round game. Jackson has held its last four opponents to under 40 points, while senior Judd Thomas led the way offensively with 14 points. Jackson will square off with juggernaut Staley in a Class 6 semifinal game in Springfield.
10. Pembroke Hill (23-5)
Last week: 13
The Raiders punched their tickets to the semifinal round for the first time since 2014 with a 70-42 victory over Ruskin on Friday. Pembroke Hill is looking to its first state championship since 1974 and will square off with Cardinal Ritter in a Class 5 state semifinal game on Friday in Springfield.
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Jadis Jones leads New Madrid County Central past Lutheran North to win Missouri Class 3 title
11. South Iron (29-4)
Last week: NR
Cementing itself as the premiere Class 1 program, South Iron went back-to-back-to-back on Saturday, winning its third consecutive Class 1 state championship, defeating St. Elizabeth, 56-47. Colton Dinkins paced the offense with 19 points, while Martez Burse picked up a double-double of 18 points and 12 rebounds. It's the fourth state championship in the program, joining the 1965 championship run.
12. Salisbury (29-3)
Last week: NR
The Panthers captured the Class 2 state championship on Saturday, outlasting the cinderella story Principia, 55-46. Cooper Francis paved the way with 21 points, while teammate Hayden Wooldridge scored 13 points and pulled down six rebounds in the victory. The state championship is the first since the Panthers won the 2013 Class 2 state championship.
13. Lutheran North (21-11)
Last week: NR
The Crusaders survived a thriller in the Class 3 semifinal round, defeating Thayer 61-60 and were looking to tackle legendary coach Lennies McFerren in the championship. But a 16-point deficit proved too much for the Crusaders as Lutheran North fell 56-46 in the title game. Bryce Spiller poured in 20 points in the loss as Lutheran North captured its first postseason hardware since a third-place finish in 2013.
14. Lee's Summit West (26-5)
Last week: 5
The Titans fell just short of the semifinal round with a 49-43 loss to Kickapoo in the Class 6 quarterfinal round on Friday. Lee's Summit West's offense stalled out at halftime, only mustering 21 points in the second half as Kickapoo was able to pull away late. The 26 victories are the most wins the Titans have recorded in a season since it finished as the Class 5 runner-ups in 2016-17 and notched 26 wins.
15. Park Hills Central (27-3)
Last week: NR
The Rebels punched their tickets to the Class 4 semifinal round with a 56-52 victory over MICDS in a Class 4 quarterfinal game on Friday. It's the first time the Rebels have advanced to the semifinal round since 1976 when it finished third in Class 3A. Seniors Jobe Bryant and Caden Casey led the way for Park Hills Central with 15 points and 13 points, respectively. Central will take on Lafayette St. Joseph on Thursday in a Class 4 semifinal game in Springfield.
16. Chaminade (22-9)
Last week: 6
The Red Devils were rolling into the Class 6 quarterfinal round until they ran into a buzz saw in Troy Buchanan. Chaminade fell to the Trojans 74-62 in the semifinal round. Chaminade was the last team from the juggernaut conference that is the Metro Catholic Conference, making it the first time that the MCC will no thave a team in the semifinal round for the first time since 2012. Senior and Southeast Missouri recruit BJ Ward poured in 27 points in the loss.
17. Thayer (26-5)
Last week: 20
Thayer came up just short of its journey to the state championship game, falling to Lutheran North in the Class 3 semifinal round in overtime. The defending third-place finishers in Class 3 earned another third-place trophy, knocking off Lafayette County 67-64 in the third-place game. The back-to-back third-place trophies are the first postseason hardware for the Bobcats since a fourth-place finish in Class 2 in 2014.
18. Principia (25-7)
Last week: NR
A program that had a combined 15 wins four years before the season, Principia smashed its way onto the scene. The Panthers slammed their way all the way to the Class 2 state championship game. The Panthers ran out of juice in the state championship game, losing to Salisbury 55-46. Stephen Okoro picked up a huge double-double of 14 points and 21 rebounds.
19. Oak Park (26-2)
Last week: 8
The Northmen lost 56-49 in the Class 6 District 8 title game against Staley.
20. Nixa (28-1)
Last week: 9
The Eagles lost 68-60 in the Class 6 District 5 title game against Kickapoo.
21. Cape Girardeau Central (26-3)
Last week: 12
The Tigers lost 50-48 in the Class 5 District 1 title game against Sikeston.
22. Sikeston (22-8)
Last week: 16
Sikeston battled and bullied its way to within five points of the Lions in a Class 5 quarterfinal game on Friday, but eventually lost steam and lost 62-45. Tristan Wiggins led the way for the Bulldogs with 16 points in the loss. After upsetting rivals Cape Central in the district title game, the quarterfinal run is the farthest the Bulldogs have advanced in Class 5 since a fourth-place finish in Class 4 in 2018.
23. MICDS (23-7)
Last week: 21
After an 18-point victory over Park Hills Central earlier in the year, MICDS couldn't duplicate that success on Friday. The Rams couldn't get over the hump in the Class 4 quarterfinal round, falling to Park Hills Central, 56-52. Marcus Coleman added 11 points, while Mason Swartz chipped in 10 in the loss.
24. Republic (24-4)
Last week: 17
The Tigers lost to Kickapoo in the Class 6 District 5 semifinal, 59-49.
25. Kirkwood (24-3)
Last week: 18
The Pioneers lost to Jackson in the Class 6 District 1 title game, 39-37.
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